Flush apparatus for watering systems

ABSTRACT

An automatic flushing system for poultry watering systems is provided which includes a bypass of the upstream pressure regulator, self sealing caps for the stand pipes and a readily disassembleable automatic flush valve at the end of the supply line. A shut-off valve in the bypass is provided which is actuatable manually or automatically in response to a timer, environmental sensor or water condition sensor. The automatic flush valve opens in response to a predetermined pressure level and connects the supply line to a drain hose. The automatic flush valve can include an end cap which is removable from the flush valve and which facilitates cleaning of the valve and supply line. The self sealing caps prevent leakage out of the standpipes and are especially formed to prevent blow-outs of the seal. Where multiple pressure regulators are used in the supply line, additional automatic flush valves can be positioned in a bypass line around those regulators. The flush valve is readily disassembleable by use of a J-slot and post connection to provide access to the internal valve components for repair and maintenance.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 07/579,813, filed Sep. 9, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No.5,136,983.

The present invention relates generally to watering systems for poultryand small animals and, more particularly, to nipple drinker-typewatering systems.

Over the years numerous nipple drinker watering systems have beenattempted. Some of the most widely used nipple drinker watering systemsare currently manufactured by Ziggity Systems, Inc. of Middlebury, Ind.These watering systems involve the use of several branching water supplylines extending the length of a poultry house interior. Numerous nippledrinkers are attached to the water supply lines so that the poultry mayobtain water by pecking at the nipples. Water pressure regulators arespaced as needed along the water supply lines so as to keep waterpressure to the nipple drinkers within acceptable levels. Typically, onesuch pressure regulator will be needed at the head of each water supplyline to reduce pressure coming in from the pump. Often, however, if thewatering system is used in a floor raising system, such as for broilerpoultry, the poultry house will have a sloped floor. Since the watersupply line typically has a corresponding slope, additional pressureregulators are used at spaced locations along the supply line to keepwater pressure within acceptable levels. With the Ziggity wateringsystems it has been found advantageous to start poultry out atapproximately three inches of water pressure and end growing at lessthan twelve inches of water pressure. The pressure regulators aretypically provided with clear plastic standpipes to visually demonstratethe water pressure level to the grower. An end-line standpipe is alsoused to demonstrate pressure levels at the end of the supply line.

It has been found to be advantageous to periodically flush nippledrinker watering systems both between flocks and sometimes during flockgrowth. Such flushing is done to clean out the watering system and toincrease water consumption by the poultry. Nipple drinker wateringsystems, as well as other closed water supply systems used with poultry,occasionally need cleaning to remove any sediment which has accumulatedin the water supply lines. There are many possible sources for thissediment: Some water supply filters do not effectively remove sedimentfrom well water; filters may not be cleaned or replaced as frequently asneeded; and in some instances it has been found that growers supplywater additives which cause sediment build-up. It is common to introducechlorine into water supplies to cut down on bacteria growth. It is alsocommon to add various types of medication to water supplies to increasethe health of poultry against certain diseases. However, certain formsof medication are believed to react with chlorine, especially ifexcessive amounts of chlorine are added to the water supply, when bothadditives are used at the same time. This reaction appears to result inthe accumulation of sediment in the water supply lines. This sedimentdoes not usually pass through the nipple drinker immediately in Ziggitywatering systems because of a raised tube within the water supply linefor connecting water flow to the nipple drinker. Sediment accumulationcan, however, interfere with proper water flow along the water supplyline and eventually contribute to malfunction of the nipple drinkers.

Nipple drinker watering systems can also benefit from periodic flushingwhen excessive amounts of water additives are present in the water,particularly chlorine. Some growers who are not totally familiar withclosed water supply systems for feeding poultry continue the sameadditive practices they used with open supply watering systems. Forexample, because closed water supply systems, such as nipple drinkerwatering systems, limit the ability of chlorine to evaporate from thewater, far less chlorine is needed to achieve protection againstbacteria than with open water supply systems, such as trough drinkers.However, growers who have recently switched over to a nipple drinkerwatering systems may still, due to inexperience with the new systems,use the same amount of chlorine as with the prior systems. This excesschlorine can, over a period of time, adversely affect importantcomponents of the nipple drinker watering systems and has been found toadversely affect the health of the poultry.

Flushing of poultry watering systems can increase water consumption bythe poultry especially in hot weather. With the increased cost of energyconsumption it is more difficult and/or expensive to maintaincomfortable, stable temperatures in poultry houses during hot weather.As temperatures increase, poultry need to consume more water to maintainproper health and growth rates. Water in supply lines has been found toincrease in temperature down the supply line, especially in hot weatherand where that supply line is several hundred feet long within thepoultry house. It has been found that warmer water is less attractive topoultry than cooler water. Thus, at the same time poultry have a greaterneed of water, they are less inclined to obtain it. Flushing out thewarmer water in the supply has been found to reduce the watertemperature by 10°-15° F. and to increase poultry consumption of thewater.

Previous methods and apparatus of flushing out nipple drinker wateringsystems have been more expensive, time consuming and labor intensivethan is desirable. Previous methods have used manually operated valvesto isolate each and every pressure regulator from the water supplylines, along with regulator by-pass lines (also manually valved) and amanually operated flush valve at the end of the lines. It has often beennecessary to isolate the pressure regulator in order to achieve a highpressure flush. For example, many commercially available pressureregulators employ a standpipe of less than 24 inches in height. Applyinghigh pressures (of 2 pounds, for example) could force water up and outof the standpipe, even past the float ball often used. Similarly, it hasbeen necessary to isolate or specially seal the end-line standpipe.Also, the manually operated valves have often been deliberately stiff orincluded safety latches or similar means to avoid inadvertent actuationby the poultry. Thus, manual operation of these valves to flush thewatering system has not been a trivial task. Further, during the time ittakes to flush the watering system the poultry are denied access towater.

In certain automatic flush apparatus, such as that described in theparent patent application for this case, many of these disadvantages canbe overcome. However, poultry water supplies occasionally contain debrisand other substances which can interfere with automatic valving devices.Designing such valves to be immune to such interferences can result inprohibitive valve pricing, and prior methods of cleaning automatic flushvalves having an inexpensive design can involve significant labor costs.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedmethod and arrangement of flushing poultry watering systems.

Another object is the provision of a flushing apparatus for nippledrinker watering systems which is actuatable manually or automaticallyand available at decreased expense.

A further object is to provide a means of flushing poultry wateringsystems automatically in response to environmental changes or changes inthe state of the water supply.

Yet another object is the provision of an inexpensive automatic valvingapparatus for poultry watering systems, which is relatively easy toclean, repair and maintain.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by theprovision of a flushing system which includes a bypass of the upstreampressure regulator, self sealing caps for the standpipes, and a readilydisassembleable automatic flush valve at the end of the supply line. Ashut-off valve in the bypass is provided which is actuatable manually orautomatically in response to a timer, environmental sensor or a watercondition sensor. The automatic flush valve opens in response to apredetermined pressure level and connects the supply line to a drainhose. The automatic flush valve can include an end cap which isremovable from the flush valve and which facilitates cleaning of thevalve and supply line. The self sealing caps prevent leakage out of thestandpipes and are specially formed to prevent blow-outs of the seal.Isolating valves for each pressure regulator are not necessary. Wheremultiple pressure regulators are used in the supply line, additionalautomatic flush valves can be used in the existing bypass lines of thoseregulators instead of manual valves. The flush valve is readilydisassembleable by use of a J-slot and post connection to provide accessto the internal valve components for repair and maintenance.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side plan view of a nipple drinker watering systememploying the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the self sealing cap employed inthe present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of the disassembled self sealing cap of thepresent invention without the presence of a float ball.

FIG. 4 shows a side plan view of the self sealing cap of the presentinvention corresponding with FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the automatic flush valveaccording to the present invention with the valve element therein alsoin cross section.

FIG. 6 shows a side plan view of the automatic flush valve with aportion thereof broken away to illustrate a side plan view of the valveelement therein.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative automatic flushvalve according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a side plan view of the alternative automatic flush valveof FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, shows a conventional nipple drinker watering system 10,including support pipe 12, water supply line 14, nipple drinkers 16,connecting brackets 18, and pressure regulator 20. Each of theseelements is commercially available from Ziggity Systems, Inc. Similarelements have been described in previous patents, notably U.S. Pat. No.4,491,088. Nipple drinker watering systems are used in floor or cagepoultry raising systems. In a floor system support pipe 12 is oftenadjustably suspended from the ceiling; in a cage system support pipe 12and brackets 18 are not needed since supply line 14 can be supported byresting on the top of the poultry cages. For purposes of illustrationthe present invention is shown with a floor system, although it must beunderstood the present invention is equally applicable to cage systems.

This invention includes a pressure regulator bypass arrangement 30, selfsealing caps 50 for the water pressure standpipes, and an automaticflush valve 70 for the end of the water supply line. Pressure regulatorbypass arrangement 30 includes Y-shaped hose 32 connected at its base tomain water supply hose 34. One arm 36 of hose 32 is connected to theinlet of pressure regulator 20. The other arm 38 of hose 32 is connectedto supply line 14 downstream from the outlet of pressure regulator 20.Arm 38 includes a shut-off valve 40 which is closed to prevent waterflow from hose 32 to supply line 14 except during flushing. Duringnormal use of watering system 10, pressure regulator 20 reduces thewater pressure from hose 32 to only a few inches of pressure, dependingupon the age of the poultry. During flushing, valve 40 is opened and arm38 permits the full pressure of water from hose 32, usually severalpounds of pressure, to be applied directly to supply line 14. Thisincreased water pressure quickly flushes out existing water and anysediment in supply line 14.

Valve 40 can be opened manually or automatically. Automatic actuation ofvalve 40 can, for example, be accomplished by a solenoid 42 which istriggered by a timer 44. Alternatively or in addition, solenoid 42 canbe made to trigger in response to a sensor 46 of external conditionsand/or a sensor 48 of internal conditions. Sensor 46 can, for example,be a thermostat indicating temperature in the poultry house. Sensor 48can, for example, be a thermostat indicating water temperature, sedimentlevel, or chlorine level in supply line 14. Determining the number oftriggering conditions can be left to the discretion of the poultrygrower as numerous electronic and mechanical logic circuits arecommercially available to satisfy virtually any level of automationdesired.

Self sealing caps 50 are preferably applied to every standpipe inwatering system 10. Usually such standpipes (also called "riser tubes")are found at every pressure regulator and at the end of the supplylines. For purposes of illustration, pressure regulator standpipe 90 andend-line standpipe 92 are illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2,caps 50 include lower attachment portion 52, stop 54, float retainingportion 56, air vent 58, connecting bight 60, retainer 62, seal 64,float 66 and latch means 68.

Attachment portion 52 secures cap 50 to each standpipe. The specificmeans of attachment can vary depending upon the composition andstructure of the standpipe as long as the attachment means retains cap50 to the standpipe against the water pressure of hose 32 plus theadditional pressure caused by any slope of supply line 14. When usingthe current standpipes of Ziggity Systems, Inc., the preferredembodiments of the present invention employ polypropylene material (suchas 8410 ZR) to form cap 50 and a close fitting ferrule formation asattachment portion 52 to fit inside the upper opening of the standpipesStop 54 serves to limit the insertion of portion 52 into the standpipeand by visual inspection, to indicate the extent of such insertion.

Float retaining portion 56 forms the upper limit chamber for movement offloat 66 (preferable a hollow plastic ball). In prior watering systemseach standpipe is usually provided with a float to indicate visually thelevel of water pressure at that point in the supply line. Priorstandpipes were also vented at the upper portion to allow the float tomove freely and for any air trapped in the supply line to easily escape.In the present invention these same features are employed with float 66being dimensioned with respect to interior diameter 67 of cap 50 to alsomove freely into and out of portion 56 along axis 57 and to permit airto escape through vent 58. The present invention does not, however,permit water to escape from the vents in the standpipes in response towater pressures used for flushing supply line 14.

Retainer 62 is connected to stop 54 by connecting bight 60. Bight 60 isdimensioned and formed so as to be flexible and be able to be foldedback upon itself such that retainer 62 can be fit over portion 56. Seal64, preferably a rubber washer, is disposed between top surface 55 ofportion 56 and interior surface 63 of retainer 62. The inside diameterof seal 64 is less than the diameter of float 66, such that when float66 is forced upward against seal 64 by the water pressure used forflushing, float 66 rests against seal 64 to prevent water leakage pastseal 64. Retainer 62 prevents seal 64 from being lifted out of place orotherwise moved by float 66 and/or the water pressure in a manner whichwould permit water leakage past or around seal 64. Retainer 62preferably compresses seal 64 between surfaces 55 and 63.

Retainer 62 is held in place over portion 56 during flushing by latchmeans 68. As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, latch means 68 is preferably abayonet-type connection wherein two projections 69a on opposite sides ofthe exterior surface of portion 56 are matingly received in two J-shapedslots 69b of retainer 62. Nubs 96 are preferably employed on retainer 62to facilitate the slight locking rotation necessary to secure projection69a within slots 69b.

When valve 40 is opened, water pressure in supply line 14 will rise inresponse to the increased pressure from hose 34 and float 66 will riseto engagement with seal 64. However, once the water pressure in supplyline 14 reaches a predetermined level, preferably 2 pounds of pressure,flush valve 70 will automatically open and permit drainage through drainhose 94. Water and any sediment from supply line 14 passes through hose94 to a reservoir or other container outside of the poultry house. Aftersufficient flushing has occurred (typically 3-5 minutes at 2 pounds ofwater pressure in a 250 foot long supply line), valve 40 is closed,water pressure in supply line 14 drops back to normal level and flushvalve 70 automatically closes.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, flush valve 70 includes an inlet 72 connectedto supply line 14, an outlet 74 connected to drain hose 94 and a valvechamber 76 therebetween for receiving biasing spring 78, seal 80 andvalve element 82. Biasing spring 78 is mounted between rear wall 77 ofvalve chamber 76 and rear wall 83 of the valve element 82. Seal 80,preferably a rubber 0-ring, is mounted in recess 81 within valve chamber76. Biasing spring 78 urges valve element 82 into contact with seal 80to shut off water flow between inlet 72 and outlet 74 through valvechamber 76 until the force of the water pressure in supply line 14 whichis extended against front wall 84 of the valve element 82 exceeds theforce of biasing spring 78 against rear wall 77. Thus, spring 78 may beselected to establish the desired flushing water pressure in aparticular system. Projections 86 are provided on the exterior surfaceof valve element 82, and mating slots of longer dimension (notillustrated explicitly in the drawings) are provided on the interiorsurface of valve chamber 76 to assist in smooth alignment and movementof valve element 82. Flush valve 70 can be connected to supply line 14by any conventional means, including ultrasonic welding or plasticcement, and is preferably formed from ABS material. Flush valve 70 cansimilarly be connected to drain hose 94 by any conventional means,including a close fitting ferrule as shown.

In the preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, flush valve 70 isof a generally y-shaped configuration, such that valve chamber 76 issubstantially co-linear with valve inlet 72, and outlet 74 depends fromvalve chamber 76 at an angle from the horizontal. Thus, debris may flowinto valve chamber 76 without passing through outlet 74, possiblyjamming spring 78 if that debris is relatively large. In instances wheredebris or other substances are common in the water supply, such thatjamming is a possibility, it is beneficial to employ alternative flushvalve 170, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Flush valve 170 includes end cap120 which is removably attachable to flush valve 170 opposite inlet 172and allows the inner components of flush valve 170 to be readilyremoved. By comparison to flush valve 70, end cap 120 replaces rear wall77 of valve chamber 76. This facilitates repair and maintenance of flushvalve 170, its components, and supply line 14.

End cap 120 may be removably connected to flush valve 170 in severaldifferent ways. In the preferred embodiment shown, flush valve 170includes on its exterior surface post 122. Post 122 preferably has agenerally oval cross-section, and protrudes from flush valve 170radially to longitudinal axis A of the flush valve. End cap 120 includesa generally J-shaped slot 124 which engages post 122 on flush valve 170.

J-shaped slot 124 includes channel 126 and locking chamber 128. Channel126 transitions into locking chamber 128 past nub 130. Both channel 126and locking chamber 128 are dimensioned to freely allow post 122 to beslideably received therein. Nub 130 extends between channel 126 andlocking chamber 128 such that it interferes with the free slideabilityof post 122 from channel 126 into and out of locking chamber 128.However, nub 130 is flexible, such that applying a predetermined levelof pressure to nub 130 will cause it to shift, flex or compress,allowing post 122 to enter locking chamber 128.

To attach end cap 120 to flush valve 170, the end cap is positionedadjacent the flush valve so that post 122 is aligned with channel 126 ofslot 124. End cap 120 is pushed longitudinally onto flush valve 70 untilpost 122 abuts the end of channel 126. End cap 120 is then rotated untilpost 122 contacts nub 130. Continuing rotation of end cap 120 causespost 122 to exert pressure on nub 130. This pressure causes nub 130 toshift, flex or compress, allowing post 122 to slideably enter lockingchamber 128. Once post 122 is in locking chamber 128, nub 130 shifts,flexes or expands back to its original position, thus retaining post 122in locking chamber 128. In this position, end cap 120 is tightly securedto flush valve 170. To remove end cap 120, post 122 is removed fromlocking chamber 128 by rotating the end cap in the opposite direction,and then sliding the end cap longitudinally off the flush valve.

Being able to readily remove end cap 120 from flush valve 170 providesaccess to the internal components of the flush valve, and facilitatesmaintenance and repair of flush valve 120 as well as supply line 14. Thetwo directional locking and unlocking motion of end cap 120 minimizesinadvertent unlocking by poultry.

When using the present invention, it is not necessary to includeisolating valves for the pressure regulators along supply line 14. Thus,considerable cost savings are available in new installations. Whenretrofitting the present invention to existing systems, such isolatingvalves can merely be left open. When multiple pressure regulators areused on supply line 14, those regulators downstream from the initialregulator, regulator 20, have typically been provided with manuallyvalved by-pass lines for flushing. To apply the present invention inthose systems the manual valve in the by-pass lines of the additionalregulators can be replaced by a flush valve 70 in each such by-passline. At the same time, the isolating valves for those additionalregulators can be omitted or left open.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, itis to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration andexample only and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit andscope of the invention are to be limited only by the terms of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve assembly, comprising:a valve housinghaving an outlet and an inlet therein; a valve chamber connected betweensaid inlet and said outlet; valve elements disposed within said valvechamber for controlling a flow of fluid between said inlet and saidoutlet; a cap removably attached to said valve chamber to permit saidvalve elements to be removed from said valve chamber; said cap beingindependent of said outlet and being attached to said valve housingopposite said valve inlet; and said valve including a post protrudingradially outward, and said cap including a J-shaped slot thereindimensioned to receive said post such that said J-shaped slot isengagable with and locks to said post.
 2. A valve assembly, comprising:avalve housing having an inlet and an outlet therein; valve elementsresponsive to fluid pressure within said inlet for controlling the fluidflow between said inlet and said outlet; said valve elements beingmounted within said valve housing and not removable through said inletor said outlet; a separable element of said housing through which saidvalve elements are removable from said valve housing; said separableelement including a portion thereof for supporting and engaging portionsof said valve elements; said separable element including an exteriorslot and said valve housing including an exterior projection receivablewithin said slot, said slot including means for fixedly retaining saidprojection thereon subject to the application of a predetermined levelof removal force; and said slot being generally J-shaped and saidprojection being movable longitudinally and rotatably with respect tothe valve housing into a locking position within said slot.
 3. Anarrangement for flushing fluid through a poultry watering system,comprising:means connected to said watering system for applying fluid tosaid watering system at fluid pressures greater than those normallyexperienced during poultry watering; means connected to said wateringsystem for preventing water from escaping from any air vents normallyopen during poultry watering; means connected to said watering systemfor automatically connecting said watering system to a drain means forreceiving the contents of said watering system during flushing; saidmeans for automatically connecting said watering system to a drain meansincluding a valve assembly having an inlet and an outlet therein, avalve chamber connected between said inlet and said outlet, valveelements disposed within said valve chamber for controlling a flow offluid between said inlet and said outlet, and a cap removably attachedto said valve chamber to permit said valve elements to be removed fromsaid valve chamber; and said valve assembly also including a postprotruding radially outward, and said cap including a generally J-shapedslot therein dimensioned to receive said post such that said J-shapedslot is engagable with and locks to said post.